"...Momentum is king in the music world, and Deafheaven has it in spades. It began with two guys and eighty-five dubs to cassette, the result of which was the Deafheaven demo (streaming below and available for purchase at their Bandcamp page), a combination of classic screamo and pensive black metal that lit up the underground. Labels came calling and the San Francisco band teamed with Deathwish Inc for a limited release of tracks from the demo, as well as their forthcoming LP.

While a great demo is one thing, it doesn't always indicate staying power. Fortunately Deafheaven's new LP Roads To Judah is cut from a similar cloth, featuring another four tracks of pummeling and emotionally-tinged black-metal colored with sheets of post-rock. Check out the first song from the highly anticipated new LP, "Violet", in an edited form (for the first time anywhere), below. Look for Roads To Judah on April 26th via Deathwish Inc...

Recorded by Jack Shirley (guitarist of Comadre), "Roads to Judah", is a hypnotic thirty eight minute plunge into hazy musical darkness. A dizzying hybrid of Shoe-gaze shimmer, Hardcore vulnerability, and Black Metal intensity.

From the opening drone of the album it's as if we are are peering through a dream into the private world that is Deafheaven's "Roads to Judah". Layers and layers of instrumentation build, tangle and swirl before the real onslaught begins. A ferocious drum fill then thrusts us from the serene into a free fall, as if the ground below suddenly gave way. From there we plummet through one awe inducing sonic fog into the next, blurring the traditional lines of song. Hyper blasts of speed rage and pulse while lush guitars bellow, roar and whine with unorthodox melody. And just as we feel we've departed from reality from the aural overload, tortured vocals cry out from afar. Serving as a stark reminder that there is something very human about "Roads to Judah" and Deafheaven themselves.

Though the title could suggest something otherworldly, the "Judah" referenced is in fact the "N Judah" train, the busiest line of the San Francisco transit system. A relatable landmark to compliment the haunting ambiguity that surrounds Deafheaven and the music that they collectively create. On it, much of the lyrical writing and personal reflection for this album took place.

With that said, "Roads to Judah" isn't Heavy Metal role play, but a beautifully blackened artistic exploration of the issues and self loathing that can cloud every day life. A stunning achievement, emotionally and musically, that will surely shape aggressive music for years to come.

You can pick up a digital version of Deafheaven's full demo direct from their Bandcamp website (linked below).

"...Blasting percussion; high-quality tremolo picking riffs; distant, sneering vocals... it's all here. And that's all great, but it is the little boundary-pushing bits and pieces that they offer that really pushes things over the edge - from the beautiful acoustic passages to the epic, surging melodies, and even some "post-rock" textures, to...I'm probably scaring people away with some of these claims, but please don't let that happen. Amidst all of this, they really retain a sense of aggressive feeling. It is black metal, when all is said and done. And it's fucking awesome..."

Deafheaven will soon enter the studio to record their new album titled "Roads to Judah" with Jack Shirley (Funeral Diner, Loma Prieta). This highly anticipated album will be released on Deathwish in 2011.

Kicking myself in the ass for not picking up the demo tape. This stuff is really good. Super stoked to hear what they do with a full length. I hope they keep the recording sound wise close to the demo.